Asked about Avery's comments later on Wednesday, Tortorella's reaction was predictable.

“No, I’m so busy worrying about this team. This is the first time I’ve heard about it,” Tortorella said, according to the New York Daily News. “We go about our business here, and I know that’s a story I’m sure that’s going to be talked about a lot, because Sean was here and very well-liked, but again I’m coaching this hockey club here. Talk to (Whale coach Ken Gernander). I don’t know what’s going on down there. So I can’t comment on it.”

The Rangers won their first game of the season on Tuesday, beating Vancouver 4-0 and moving to 1-1-2 on the season.

While the team was in Sweden, Tortorella said the controversial, agitating winger was cut, simply, because the team had better players.

The two spoke before Avery flew back to New York, and called it a "pretty quick conversation."

Avery had three goals and 21 assists for New York in 2010-11.

"(Tortorella) told me it was his decision and that was pretty much it," said Avery, who added that received a cortisone shot on Tuesday in his shoulder and turned down options to play in Europe.

Avery, 31, is making $4 million to play in the AHL—the last year of his contract—and said he believes he can still play in the NHL.

"I'm probably one of the only guys in hockey who's being paid a lot of money to play without pressure," he said. "My only responsibility now is to work hard."